Impact resistant speed sensing object

• US 7,849,740 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nix Tek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nix Tek, Inc.
• Inventors: Nichol, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwok; Helen C.
• Application Number:
  US11/716,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20080223133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 73488-495, 73498-499, 734/31, 738/665, 273/371, 273/374, 273/339, 473/233, 473/453, 473/446, 473/588
• US Class Current: 73/493
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/14 Curling stone; Shuffleboard; Similar sliding games
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/02 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 7/00 Measuring speed by integrating acceleration measuring travelled distance by double integration of acceleration G01C21/16

Abstract

An impact resistant speed sensing object having an inner body with a processor and at least one speed detecting sensors adapted to engage the inner body and adapted to interact with the processor for determining the speed of the impact resistant speed sensing object. The impact resistant speed sensing object further includes an impact resistant housing having apertures adapted to receive the inner body and the speed detecting sensor. The impact resistant speed sensing object has an aperture adapted to receive the impact resistant housing with the inner body and speed detecting sensor.

Claims

1. An impact resistant speed sensing object, comprising:

(a) an inner body having a processor;

(b) at least one speed detecting sensor adapted to engage the inner body and adapted to interact with the processor for determining the speed of the impact resistant speed sensing object;

(c) a transparent protection housing adapted to encase a majority of the inner body; and

(d) an impact resistant housing having apertures adapted to receive the transparent protection housing encasing the majority of the inner body and the speed detecting sensor;

wherein the impact resistant speed sensing object has an aperture adapted to receive the impact resistant housing with the transparent protection housing encasing the majority of the inner body and the speed detecting sensor,

wherein the processor is configured to determine the speed of the speed sensing object after determining (i) that the speed sensing object receives a predetermined impact force, and (ii) that the speed sensing object has actually traveled a predetermined distance.

2. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner body further comprises a battery and a display system for engagement with the processor.

3. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 2 wherein the battery is in constant engagement with a series of tabs mounted to the battery for continuous power.

4. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 3 wherein the battery is a silver oxide battery partially forming a bottom surface of the inner body.

5. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner body further comprises at least one supporting arm having a first end adapted to engage the inner body and a second end adapted to engage the speed detecting sensor.

6. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 5 wherein the inner body accommodates two supporting arms and two speed detecting sensors.

7. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inner body further comprises a top plate adapted to engage the display system and form a top surface of the inner body.

8. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 7 wherein the transparent protection housing is adapted to encase the top surface and the majority of the inner body.

9. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 8 wherein the transparent protection housing is a lens housing adapted to fit over the top surface of the inner body and encompassing the majority of the inner body.

10. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a protective barrier adapted to engage the bottom surface of the inner body.

11. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 10 wherein the impact resistant housing is further defined as a first portion having a first aperture adapted to receive the inner body, and two apertures each adapted to receive the speed detecting sensor, and a second portion adapted to engage the protective barrier.

12. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first and second portions are made from shock resistant natural rubber.

13. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 12 wherein the shock resistant natural rubber has a 40 Shore A durometer.

14. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 11 wherein the second portion is further defined as shock resistant bottom plate.

15. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner body and the speed detecting sensor are adhered into the impact resistant housing using a shock absorbing adhesive.

16. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first and second portions form a vapour proof and temperature insensitive impact resistant housing.

17. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 11 wherein the impact resistant housing is adhered to the aperture of the impact resistant speed sensing object using a shock absorbing adhesive, wherein the aperture has a ridged surface.

18. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 1 wherein the impact resistant speed sensing object has a slap mode, a snap mode and a pass mode, in which the pass mode is most sensitive to impact, and the slap mode is least sensitive to impact.

19. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 18 wherein a first speed detecting sensor monitors the slap mode.

20. An impact resistant speed sensing object as claimed in claim 19 wherein a second speed detecting sensor monitors the snap mode and the pass mode.

21. A speed sensing object, comprising:

(a) at least one speed detecting sensor;

(b) a processor configured to interact with the at least one speed detecting sensor and to determine the speed of the speed sensing object;

(c) an impact resistant housing adapted to encase the at least one speed detecting sensor and the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to determine the speed of the speed sensing object after determining (i) that the speed sensing object receives a predetermined impact force, and (ii) that the speed sensing object has actually traveled a predetermined distance.

22. The speed sensing object recited in claim 21, wherein the predetermined distance is selected by a user from the group consisting of 16, 24, 36 and 48 feet prior to speed sensing.

23. The speed sensing object recited in claim 21, wherein the impact resistant speed sensing object is configured to operate in a plurality of modes each having a different predetermined impact force sensitivity.

24. The speed sensing object recited in claim 23, wherein the plurality of modes include a slap mode, a snap mode and a pass mode.

25. The speed sensing object recited in claim 24, wherein a first speed detecting sensor monitors the slap mode.

26. The speed sensing object recited in claim 25, wherein a second speed detecting sensor monitors the snap mode and the pass mode, and the second speed detecting sensor is more sensitive to impact force than the first speed detecting sensor.

27. The speed sensing object recited in claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to discriminate between an actual shot of the speed sensing object and the speed sensing object being bumped or jarred.

28. The speed sensing object recited in claim 21, wherein the predetermined impact force is the speed sensing object hitting an object.

29. The speed sensing object recited in claim 28, wherein the object is a hockey stick, a wall or a hockey board.

30. The speed sensing object recited in claim 23, wherein the operation of the plurality of modes is changed by tapping the speed sensing object.

31. The speed sensing object recited in claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to turn off, if the impact resistant speed sensing object is not touched or moved for a predetermined period of time.

32. The speed sensing object recited in claim 21, wherein the speed sensing object is configured as a hockey puck.